Cabinet shelf support



Sept. '23, 1947. E. D. DRAKE 2,427,757

' CABINET SHELF SUPPORT Filed Sept. 18, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l F 1 Z 13 27 l2 m. m

l/ IO BY CM away ATTY.

Sept. 23, 1947. DRAKE 2,427,767

CABINET SHELF SUPPORT Filed Spt. 18, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.EARL -04 ERA/ 5 ATTY Patented Sept. 23, 1947 CABINET SHELF SUPPORT EarlD. Drake, Greenville, Mich, assignor to Gibson Refrigerator Company,Greenville, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application September 18,1944, Serial No. 554,585

7 Claims.

This invention relates to supports for shelves within a cabinet, andmore particularly to removable shelf supports.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an extremelysimple and economical shelf supporting bracket which can be readilyfabricated from sheet metal.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shelf bracket which isreadily installed in and removed from the cabinet.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a, shelf brackethaving integral attaching means thereon which cooperate with the cabinetwalls to hold the shelf supports in place.

A still further object is to provide a shelf bracket which can besuitably ornamented and in which the fastening means is completelyconcealed when the support is in place.

A still further object is to provide a shelf bracket attached to thecabinet walls by integral tongues interlocked with the cabinet wallsthrough openings therein and in which provision is made for positivelypreventing movement of the brackets in a horizontal plane.

These objects will more fully appear in the following specification whenread in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a refrigeratorcabinet with the door removed showing the present invention;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional View taken on substantially the line 22 ofFigure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of one form of shelf bracket employed inthe rear corners of the cabinet;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the cabinet showing theshelf bracket of Figure 3 in place;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a slightly different formof shelf bracket employed adjacent the front of the cabinet; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a refrigerator cabinetshowing a still further form of shelf bracket.

Referring now more in detail to the drawings, and particularly toFigures 1 to 5 thereof, there is shown a refrigerator cabinet I ll ofgenerally conventional construction having a storage chamber ll therein.Located in the storage chamber are a plurality of shelves I2 mounted onbrackets l3 and M. The present invention is directed particularly to thebrackets I3 and I4 and the manner in which they are mounted within thestorage chamber.

The cabinet I!) comprises an outer casing i 5 which may be fabricatedfrom sheet metal in any preferred manner. Located Within the casing I5in spaced relation thereto is a liner [6 of generally rectangularbox-shaped configuration open at its front end. The liner forms thestorage chamber ll. Preferably the liner is fabricated from thin sheetmetal. Both the casing l5 and liner [6 are provided with flanges l7 andI8 respectively, which are secured together by insulating breaker stripsIS. The breaker strips partially support the liner 1 6 within the casingI 5.

The liner l6 comprises upright side walls 20 and 2|, a rear wall 22, andtop and bottom walls, not shown. The two side walls 20 and 2| arepreferably integral with the rear wall 22 and meet the latter in rightangular corners at the rear of the side Walls. A plurality of verticallyelongated narrow slots 23 are formed in the liner at the junctionbetween the side walls and the rear wall. See Figure 4. A plurality ofslots 24 are also formed in the liner in the junctions between the sidewalls 20 and 2| and the flanges l8 thereon, as shown in Figures 2 and 6.The purpose of the slots 23 and 24 will appear more fully presently,

Each of the shelves, I2, which may be of glass, wire or other suitableconstruction, is supported by the brackets l3 and I4 previouslymentioned. The brackets M are identical and are shown best in Figures 3and 4. Each bracket consists of a horizontal body portion 25 ofgenerally triangular configuration, although one edge may be curved ifdesired, as shown in the drawings. Two edges of the bracket should bestraight, however, and at right angles to each other. Extending upwardlyfrom these two edges are vertical flanges 26 and 21. The two flangesadjoin each other at one apex of the triangular body portion 25. Theflange 21 is extended a short distance beyond the apex of the triangularbracket to form a tongue 28. This tongue is provided with a verticalnotch or recess 29 extending approximately half way downward into thetongue to provide an upwardly extending member 30 to form a verticallyextending hook. I

The brackets M are mounted in place within the liner by moving them intothe liner and inserting the hook-like members 30 into the correspondingslots 23 in the rear corners of the liner. This can be done by tiltingthe outer curved edges of the brackets upwardly to permit insertion ofthe hook-like members 30 in the slots. After the hook-like members 30are located in the slots the brackets can be lowered to a horizontalposition. They are held in that position by engagement of the flanges 26and 21 with the interior walls of the liner and engagement of thehook-like member 30 with the exterior of the liner at the junctionbetween the walls 20 and 22 or 21 and 22.

It is a very simple matter to install the brackets because they-can beguided into place by locating the tongue 28 in the respective cornerof'the liner and sliding the bracket up or down until the hook-likemember 30 slips into the corresponding slot 23.

The brackets 13 are mounted adjacent the front of the cabinet to supportthe front edges of the shelves. Each bracket I3 is very similar tothebrackets 14 previously described. They comprise horizontal body portions3!, a pair of'upstanding flanges 32 and 33, and a tongue 3 on the flange32 extending beyond the apex of the body portion l3. The tongue 34 isprovided with ahook-like portion'35 similar to the hook portion 30 Theflange 32 is made considerably higher than flange 33an'd is suitablyornamented as by ribs 32c.

Theonly real difference between the brackets I3 and I4 is in theposition of-the tongues 28 and 34; The tongues 34are bent'so that theyform acute angle of 45 between one side flange'instead of an obtuseangle of 135. This will be evident from an inspection of Figures 2, 3and 5. The position-of the tongue 34 in the case of the'right handbracket I3 is different by 90* than in the case of the left'handbracket, because thebrackets are mounted on opposite sides of-the liner.

The brackets l3 are mounted in-the liner by inserting the hook-likeportions 35 into the corresponding-slots 24 adjacentthe front of theliner in-much the same manner as in mounting the brackets l4. One flangeof eachbracket l3 engages a side wall of the liner.

It will be evident that as only oneflange 32 or 33 of each bracketengages a side wall of the liner, the brackets I3 canbe rotatedin ahorizontal plane to a limited'extent prior to mounting the shelftherein. However, when the shelf I2 is mounted in the brackets theflanges 32 and 33 on the bracket engage two adjoining edges of theshelf, as shown in Figure 2, which thereafter preven'ts undesiredmovement of the corner brackets.

Figure 6 discloses a still further modifiedform of' the invention. Inthis form'the two brackets on one side of the liner are joined togetherto form a single bracket performing the functions ofboth. The bracketcomprises a'horizontal body portion' lfi, a pair of upstanding flangesii and 42'at the ends thereof, and another flange 43 at right angles tothe flanges 4| and'42 and extending between the same. The flanges M and42 are parallel to each other. They are extended beyond the flange 43 toform' tongues 4'4 and 45. Ihe tongues 44 and 45 are provided withhook-like portions 46 and 4T respectively, similar to the liookl-likeportions 30-" in Figure 3 and 35in Fi ure' The hook-like portions 46 and47- are adapted t'o'beinsertedin openings 23 and 24 in the side wall ofthe cabinet liner and located therein in the same manner that thebrackets l3 and I4 are attached to the cabinet. Because of the fact thatthebracket is provided'with two tongues i and 45; it is essential thatthe tongues parallel each other so that they can be hooked into theopenings 23 and 24.

Since the metalfrom which the various brackets are formed is relativelythin, and the walls of the cabinet liner are also very thin, there isbound to be some relative movement between the brackets and the wallsupon which they are supported unless some means is provided forpreventing such movement. It will be evident that in each of the abovedescribed modifications means for preventing such, movement is provided.In the case of the rear corner brackets l4, horizontal movement of thebrackets is prevented by engagement of the edges of the bracketsadjoining the side and rear walls of the cabinet liner. In the case ofthe brackets [3 at the front of the cabinet, horizontal movement isprevented by engagement of the upstanding flanges 32 and 33 with thecorners of the shelf. Prior to insertion of the shelf the brackets canbe moved to a limited extent in a horizontal plane, but once the shelfhas been located in position such movement is prevented. In the case ofthe bracket shown in Figure 6, horizontal movement of the two cornerportions thereof is prevented by the interconnection between the twoparts.

It will be evident from the foregoing that the present inventionprovides a very simple form of shelf support because it can be pressedor stamped from sheet metal and readily bent to shape. Itis very easilyinstalled and is as readily removed when desired. The shelf which issupported thereon is also easily removed for cleaning, yet it is firmlyheld in proper position when it'is mount"- ed on the brackets.

The brackets h. are particularly easilyinstalled because the side walls28 and '21 and the rear wall 22 form guides for sliding the bracketsinto place. Thus, even though it is difiicult to see the slots at therear corners of the liner, the brackets can be located therein simply byfeel.

The upstanding flanges on the brackets can'be varied in height andsuitably ornamented, either directly, or by attaching ornamentalmouldings thereto. Thus without altering the bracketsthe appearance ofthe interior of the cabinet canbe readily changed, and the brackets canbe made to conform to any styling of the cabinet;

The scope of the invention is in'dicated'in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a cabinet having a storage chamber defined in part by twoangularly arranged'intersecting upright walls, said chamber walls beingformed to provide an elongated vertical'slot' at their intersection, ashelf having a corner shaped to substantially conform to saidintersecting walls, and means for supporting said shelf comprising agenerally triangular corner bracket adapted to fit into the intersectionof said walls, said bracket having a recess therein within which saidshelf corner is received, and a hook shaped projection extending throughsaid slot and engaging the outer surfaces of said walls above said slot.

2. In a cabinet having a storage chamber defined in part by twoangularly arrangedupright walls intersecting each other to form aninterior corner, said Wal1s having a vertically elongated openingtherein at the junction thereof, a horizontal shelf having a corneradapted to be received in the corner between said walls, and means forsupporting said shelf within said chamber comprising a generallytriangular bracket having a horizontal portion underlying said shelf, apair of angularly arranged upright flanges thereon adapted to engagesaid-walls, and an upwardly extending hook shapedmember received in saidopening and engaging the outside of said walls above said horizontalportion.

3. In a cabinet having a storage chamber defined in part by angularlyarranged adjoining upright walls forming an interior cornertherebetween, a generally rectangular shelf, and means for supportingsaid shelf within said chamber comprising a removable corner bracket,said bracket comprising a horizontal shelf supporting portion havingedges juxtaposed to said adjoining walls, and means on said bracketprojecting through an opening in said walls at the junction thereof ininterlocking engagement with said walls for detachably connecting saidbracket to said walls.

4. In a cabinet having a storage chamber defined in part by angularlyarranged upright walls forming an interior corner therebetween, agenerally rectangular shelf, and means for supporting said shelf withinsaid chamber comprising a removable corner bracket, said bracketcomprising a horizontal shelf supporting portion having edges juxtaposedto said adjoining walls, and a vertically elongated tongue on saidbracket projecting through an opening in said walls at the junctionthereof in interlocking engagement with said walls for detachablyconnecting said bracket to said walls.

5. In a cabinet having a storage chamber defined in part by twoangularly arranged upright walls intersecting each other to form aninterior corner, said walls being formed to provide an elongatedvertically extending opening therein at the junction thereof, and ashelf supporting bracket having a horizontal portion of triangularconfiguration adapted to be received in the corner between said walls,said bracket including a vertically extending hook projecting outwardlyfrom the apex of the triangular portion adapted to be received in saidvertical opening to secure the bracket to said walls.

6. In a cabinet comprising two angularly arranged intersecting uprightwall members formed to provide an opening at their intersection, a shelfmember, and means for supporting said shelf member on said wall membersincluding a corner bracket having a vertically extending hook shapedprojection inserted through said opening and engaging the outer surfaceof the intersection of said wall members, said shelf bracket having aside engaging one of said wall members throughout the horizontal extentof said side.

7. In a cabinet comprising two angularly arranged intersecting uprightwall members formed to provide an opening at their intersection, a shelfmember, and means for supporting said shelf member on said wall membersincluding a corner bracket having a, horizontal body portion, and pairof angularly arranged vertical flanges forming a pocket to receive acorner of said shelf, and a vertical hook shaped projection spacedoutwardly from the intersection of said flanges and received in saidopening, said hook shaped projection engaging the outer surface of theintersection of said wall members.

EARL D. DRAKE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the

